Maryland independent. [volume] (Port Tobacco, Md.) 1874-current, 1887-06-17
A BACHELORS REWARD.
BY GEORGE TRACE.

IL was Il cOlu ,nu1ry day. John
S cele set alone in his office, in the midst
Of a deep revcric.
1t was seldom that he was idle, as he
was at the present timc but this evening
the memories Of the past came tlockil g
upon him like ghoss from another land.
John Steele was a bachelor of forty.
He had been born and rcaiel roor boy,
n the little town Of NJ, and had
never felt desire to leave it. lie had
stu lied law and ploddcd along year after
year in the dingy, grimy eflice, in which
we fad him now, and had grown rica.
lie had no ! orsonal friends, and lived
alone in large, old frame house at the
u.skirts Of the town, with a man ser
want as cook and general man of-all
work.
Years and years before, when young
man of twenty, poor and aimlcs', Steele
had loved girl whose parents would
not let her marry him because he was 50
worthless In his rage he blamed her
for this and would listen to no reason,
and from that day had hated women
and had led a solitary life 1t was this
scene that now held John Steele in his
cflicc chair, as the mantle of night
gathered over the town.
more than twenty years ago." he
mu-cd, "and don't believe have ever
spoken to q woman, except on business,
since that day. They say she married
no account wretch after all, who has
unk down to poverty and want. Well,
well, ] must not waste time thinking
about such things now was only a
boy then, and d 4 not know what
wanted. l must be going" Where
upon he arose, buttoucd his coat about
him, locked his office and tru lgcd on
his honey ward Journey.
p. Rumor had it about town that. al
though by her parents influence, Katie
Drew had married shortly after her re-
lusal Of Steele, that she hal loved him
dearly. This was most likely true, lu
as twenty years had past, the matter had
faded from the general mind to give way
to more lively gossip.
Steele ate lis supper in silence. VIII
liam, his man Of all-work had very
good meal prepared; for, though Steele
was closc-fste he believed in good eat
ing, good clothes and comfortable llv-
ing.
Now, William" sad Steele, when
he had finished, ''if you fix me "
enough food to do me 10 morrow, you
may have a holiday. And here is your
money a@d five dollars to have time
with. No holiday for nc; don't need
any and don't want any,"
Thank you, Mr.. S.ec.c, for your
oodncss," said William. but, Mr..
Steele, don't you never take any little
extra pleasure at ala You know
used to know you when you was little
fellow; and can remember seeing your
good mother holding you up at the old
church so you ccud see the Christmas
tree. And you was VICE little tad
Jhcn, and You clappcd your little hands
in glec ard your mother would kiss your
baby face aad tolk baby talk to you. Ii
don't seem like that was near forty years
ago, Mr.. Steele, but it was"
"Confound the fellow" grumblcd
Steele, as he sat down in his room that
night to read 'If l should listen to
him he would upse. me. don't know
what is the matter with me this evening
anyhow. l never felt so queer in my
life. l guess am using too much to-
bacco of late"
He read until bedtime and was in the
act Of taking off his boots, when he
heard a knock at the front door,
"Wonder who that is" he thought
Something unusual at this place"
He listened moment and there came
another knock.
"What the deuce can that William be
doing that he don't go the door7' said
Steele. q want to go to bed, and it
may be some one that wants me. To
borrow money, guess. Well, unless
they have good security, nota mt do
they get"
At this jancturc, William opened the
door, Steele heard an indistinct con-
vcrsation and then William conducted
the visitor to the kitchen. After some
moments William came walking into the
room.
'Well, what is it3"
Excuse me, Mr.. Steele, but there is
a poor woman in the kitchen who needs
some help badly. I'm sure she docs, for
She don't look as common bcggar.
She says she has walked through the
cod all the way from the last town, and
Is most dead"
Yes, that is what they all say.
Give her something to eat aud send her
on
But l wish you would come and see
her.
Bpther these beggars," mumbled
Steele. But l guess I'll go down to
Get rid Of her.
Steele saw black figure sitting by the
mr..
We'll" he said to her, when he en-
tered, what can ] DO for yOnl"